Off Asides On Dallas Cowboys vs Minnesota Vikings

THANK GOD FOR MINNESOTA OR THE COWBOYS COULD BE HURTIN' FOR CERTAIN (Flikr photo by Joe Bielawa)

The Minnesota Vikings are the gift that keeps on giving.

We owe them three Super Bowls already. Might we soon owe them a fourth?

The Cowboys drove 90 yards in the final two minutes of yesterday’s game, capping with a Tony Romo touchdown toss to playmaker Dwayne Harris.

Cowboys 27. Vikings 23. Fans 100 percent relieved.

It’s a good thing only 30 seconds remained on the clock for the Vikings. If the Vikes had two minutes, I get the feeling they would have driven the length of the field and scored the winning TD just like the Detroit Lions did last week.

But the Vikes are always good at giving the Cowboys a needed boost.

HERSCHEL WALKER, THE COWBOYS PLAYER WHOSE GREATNESS IS MEASURED BY WHAT THE TEAM GOT BY GETTING RID OF HIM. (wikipedia photo)

In 1989, back when the Cowboys were far worse than the mediocre team they are now, coach Jimmy Johnson pulled off “The Great Trade Robbery,” sending a jaded and fading Herschel Walker to the Vikings in exchange for several good players and, most importantly, a wagon full of draft picks.

Those picks led to nabbing Emmitt Smith, Alvin Harper, Darren Woodson, and other key pieces to the 1990s dynasty led by Troy Aikman. Three Super Bowl victories soon followed. The trade was so infamous it has its own Wikipedia entry.

Thanks again Vikings!

Now the Cowboys remain alone in first place in the NFC East, with the team churning toward a rare playoff appearance.

Playoffs, you scoff?

That’s right. Playoffs here we come!

Look at the schedule.

The New Orleans Saints present a tough challenge next Sunday, but afterward the Cowboys get a bye week to rest and heal up.

After that, the final six games include three rematches against weak division opponents we’ve already whipped, and three games against other mediocre teams — the Raiders, Bears, and Packers.

Even if the Saints kick some Cowboys ass, the ‘Boys must win only three of those last six games to end up 8-8, which should win this weak division.

Once a team gets in the playoffs, anything can happen.

In other words, the Cowboys are guaranteed a Super Bowl.

So hat’s off to the Cowboys for yesterday’s thrilling victory — although Dez Bryant should keep his hat on.

Bryant’s 15-yard penalty in the 3rd quarter for pulling off his helmet while arguing with a referee was a numbskull move.

Even that penalty can be traced back to the Walker trade.

Without the Walker trade, the Cowboys wouldn’t have been able to draft Emmitt. And without playing for the greatest Cowboys team ever, Emmitt wouldn’t have set the record for most rushing touchdowns (164) on the most visible NFL team in the world.

And without that high profile, few people would have noticed the egocentric running back’s habit of ripping off his helmet in the end zone to let everyone bask in the glory of His Emmittness.

And as a result the NFL never would have passed the so-called Emmitt Smith Rule that prohibits players from removing their helmets on the field.